SHILLONG, May 11: For close to two months now, the Mawbah locality in Shillong has been suffering from a prolonged bout of complete darkness due to the absence of streetlights, raising serious concerns about safety and security of around 15,000-odd citizens.
The streetlights in Mawbah have been non-functional since early April 2025. This extended night blackout has caused frustration among residents, who report no clear communication or action from authorities to address the issue.
Rangbah Shnong of Mawbah, Aresstone Thabah told The Shillong Times that he has repeatedly appealed to the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) for intervention, but these requests have reportedly been ignored.
Thabah said the MeECL shifted the responsibility on the company tasked with street lighting responsibilities as part of the Shillong Smart City project.
Additionally, grievances lodged through the CM Connect platform, intended to facilitate direct communication with the Chief Minister’s Office, have yielded no response or action, Thabah said. This lack of accountability has deepened the Dorbar’s and the community’s sense of neglect, he added.
